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Being British: 5 Reasons to Visit Bath

The problem with wanderlust is, it costs money, and sometimes you can't get a weekend off to go to Barcelona, or Amsterdam, or Berlin. Sometimes, you simply can't afford to spend a weekend somewhere else. Sometimes you need to suck it up, and stay home. Though actually, if you look around, there's quite a lot to do in your own back yard.

So this post is about my favourite city, Bath. There are so many great things to do here, but let me start at the beginning. I live about 45 miles south of Bath in Dorset, and from the tiny village I live in the train runs direct all the way up to Bath Spa station. Which, as it turns out is rather handy for me. Bath itself is a World Heritage Site, and as such has a lot of great things to see and do

Costing £26 per person for a 2hr session in the pools alone doesn't make this a cheap visit. It gives you access to the two pools, and the steam rooms. Mostly I just stick to the rooftop pool and gaze at the city. My favourite time of year to go is December and January, because walking up the cold, winding steps to the top pool in nothing but a towel (& swimmers) is a freezing experience, but once you're in the hot steaming water it's totally worth it!

Photo via wikimedia commons
2. The Royal Crescent
The most famous of the Crescent's in Bath, most people don't even know there is more than one. This is the most grand, and famous. It is a row of 30 terraced houses built between 1767 and 1774 designed by John Wood, it is thought to be the greatest example of Georgian architecture in the UK. I love sitting on the lawn at the front in the summer and enjoying reading a book, or watching boys playing rugby (because who doesn't love a bit of eye candy?). I would recommend walking up- even the town is steep and hilly- especially if you walk up via Gay Street, and first view The Circus on your way up.

3. Pulteney Bridge
Another example of Georgian architecture, the bridge was also completed in 1774 designed by Robert Adam. It is one of four bridges in the world to have shops across its full span on either side. It is also Grade I listed. A few summer's ago my Mum & I took a boat tour along the river, it was great fun and we learnt a lot about Bath doing it.

5. Christmas Market
Like everywhere, Bath has a Christmas market, it is great for mulled wine, delicious hot pork and apples baps and there are lots of great handmade items. My favourite that I bought this year was a yellow star covered in gold sequins which was made by adults with learning disabilities. The girl who made it served me and was so excited her star had been sold.

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